24 July marked one year since a child was last paralyzed by wild poliovirus in Nigeria. Final laboratory results on all specimens for the full 12 month period are expected by September 2015, which, if clear for poliovirus, may lead to Nigeria being removed from the list of polio-endemic countries. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative commends the hard work of the Nigerian government, partners, religious and community leaders, and health workers for such strong progress towards stopping polio.

Somalia: More than 10,000 people have been displaced in Lower Shabelle and Bay regions since AMISOM and Somali armed forces began their offensive. Al Shabaab has lost control of Bardhere in Gedo and Dinsoor in Bay. In accessible areas of Hudur town, Bakool, 33% GAM and 19% SAM were observed in a MUAC assessment in July – a significant deterioration since June. Very critical malnutrition rates persist in Bulo Burde, Hiraan.

Iraq: More than 74,440 people have been displaced from Saqlawiyah in Falluja district since 8 July, and tens of thousands reportedly remain trapped in Falluja and Ramadi districts. There are now more than 3.1 million IDPs across 3,613 locations in Iraq; 300,000 people have been displaced from and within Anbar since military operations began in April.

Yemen: More than 1,500 civilians have been killed since conflict began to escalate in March, and airstrikes and fighting continue despite the agreement to a six-day humanitarian pause over 11–17 July. There are now 1.26 million IDPs in the country – a 24% increase since mid-June. Only 20% of the fuel needed is available in the country, which is impacting upon all basic needs.

Syria: Civilian deaths made up 81% of the total death toll in June, which was 2,137, bringing the total number of people killed so far in 2015 to 11,000. 705,000 people have been displaced in the first five months of this year: 439,000 were internally displaced, and the vast majority of the rest fled to Turkey.

Burundi: Turnout at the parliamentary elections was low. Voting stations were targeted and there was a spate of grenade attacks in the capital: several people were injured. Around 1,000 Burundians are leaving the country every day: 62,000 refugees are now in Tanzania, 45,000 in Rwanda, and 10,600 in DRC.

South Sudan: Households in some areas of Unity and Upper Nile states are suspected to be facing Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) food security outcomes. 5–8% of the country’s population are suffering severe acute malnutrition.

Despite the significant decrease in the number of people who die from easily preventable diseases, third world countries are still plagued by diseases which can be cured cost-effectively. Our organization focuses on three different highly efficient strategies to save lives and help communities escape from the vicious cycle they are in. The categories under which we operate are cataract surgeries, hospital construction & administration and health scan programs.

Despite the fundamental role of water for human health, survival, and development, today more than 750 million people live without access to clean water1. Moreover, 2.5 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation 2. As a result of these realities, every minute a child dies from a water-related disease, and more than 840,000 people lose their lives due to lack of access to clean water and sanitation.

Yemen: 2.3 million more people are food insecure than in March – the total is now at 12.9 million people. 279 children have been killed and 402 injured in the conflict, out of almost 2,600 total deaths and 11,000 injured. 53 health facilities have been damaged. Peace talks have ended with no agreement.

An Independent Outbreak Response Assessment in Equatorial Guinea took place last week with over a year since the most recent case of polio on the 3 May 2014. They concluded that there is no evidence that wild poliovirus continues to circulate in the country and that there has been a significant improvement in surveillance. Strengthening routine immunization was identified as the highest priority for sustaining the gains of the outbreak response.

Rotary is releasing $40.3 million in grants to support polio immunization activities in 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan, three countries where the disease has never been stopped.

The funds will help build on gains Rotary and its partners have been making in the fight to eradicate polio. Nigeria hasn’t seen a polio case since 24 July and the World Health Organization could remove it from the list of polio-endemic countries as soon as September if no cases are reported. Nigeria would have to go another two years without a case to be certified polio-free.

Ebola in Sierra Leone and Guinea: Weekly Ebola case incidence has risen for two consecutive weeks. Guinea recorded 16 new cases in the week to 7 June, five from unknown chains of transmission. Sierra Leone recorded 15 cases, the highest weekly total since late March. It has extended the state of emergency for 90 days.

Start of season remains slow in parts of West Africa, abnormal dryness continues in Central America and Haiti

Africa Weather Hazards

A delayed onset of the rainy season, followed by poorly-distributed rainfall, has led to abnormal dryness across southern Burkina Faso, the northern parts of Ghana, Togo, and Benin, and north-central Nigeria.
The lack of rainfall over the past five weeks has delayed planting and negatively affected cropping activities over many local areas of the region.